Posted: Jul 29, 08 1:57am
It is still a $1.375 billion market according to the RWA (http://www.rwanational.org/cs/pressroom) but it was 50% of the market two years ago not just above 25%. So what is wrong? Sex sells.
Romance novels, according to a study, found readers want romance but more sex. Poetic sex but more sex. The more sexy the novel the more it sells. And, the study found, readers want contemporary romance not historical. More realism and today's fantasy.
It is still the easist market to get into but they want more sex not two or three randy moments. I personally think the Internet's free sex stories are part of it since they are contemporary but, as is always, Sex sells.
The more alone society becomes the more sexual fantasies they aren't having they want to dive into. Pretty easy math when you consider porn is the #1 business on the Net. Now, they just want it personal.
